A cash-strapped chemistry teacher who grew up to £96,000 worth of cannabis to help pay her mortgage has been banned from the profession indefinitely.

More than 100 plants were seized from the Llandyrnog home and B&B owned by Susan McKay, a former teacher at Wrexham ’s Clywedog School, in April 2014.

She was convicted of conspiracy to supply a controlled drug in a crime which echoed the plot of the hit US TV crime drama Breaking Bad where a struggling chemistry teacher uses his skills to produce crystal meth.

Her husband and son were also convicted on charges relating to the sentencing case at Mold Crown Court in May.

Today, McKay was banned indefinitely from teaching in Wales at a fitness to practice committee hearing of the Education Workforce Council held in Ewloe , Flintshire.

The Llandyrnog B&B where Susan McKay ran the cannabis farm from

Cadi Dewi, presenting officer, told the hearing that police carried out a search of her home and discovered a large black tent with a foil tube and a total of 115 cannabis plants.

She said that McKay had accepted in police interview that she intended to use the drugs to “contribute towards the mortgage”.

The plants were worth between £32,200 and £96,000, but Ms Dewi said police had indicated that it was at the “high end of the estimate” due to the set up of the house.

“This offence is fundamentally incompatible with being a registered teacher,” she told the hearing.

McKay, who was a teacher at Clywedog School for nearly 12 years, was not well enough to attend but was legally represented by Geraint Davies of the NASUWT.

He read out parts of a letter written by his client in which she said her conduct was “totally out of character and spurred on by family and financial circumstances at the time”.

She said it was a “stupid idea” and that she would have “recurring nightmares” for the rest of her life.

McKay added: “I apologise unreservedly for the embarrassment it caused the school.”

'Good teacher'

Mr Davies told the hearing that McKay has serious health issues but aimed to return to teaching in some capacity in the future.

He said: “She did not involve the school in any way, shape or form. For her it was a private matter.

“She wanted to do the best thing she could do for her family but unfortunately fell foul of the law.

“She wants to restart her life. I ask from the bottom of my heart that you give her a chance to do that.

“She was a good teacher, she loved teaching.”

Committee chair Peter Williams said the panel had taken into consideration McKay’s previous good character, but ruled that a prohibition order was necessary to restore public confidence in the teaching profession.

He added: “The offence was premeditated with the intent of making significant financial gain.”

McKay can make an application to regain her registration in five years time, which would be decided by a panel. She also has the right to appeal the decision within 28 days.